English - Chapter 70 - Al-Maarij

An inquirer asked about an impending punishment

It is for the kafirun and cannot be averted

from Allah — the Lord of the Ascending Steps

The angels and the Spirit ascend to Him in a day whose length is fifty thousand years

Therefore be patient with a patience which is beautiful

They see it as something distant

but We see it as very close

On the Day the sky is like molten brass

and the mountains like tufts of coloured wool

no good friend will ask about his friend

even though they can see each other. An evildoer will wish he could ransom himself from the punishment of that Day, by means of his sons

or his wife or his brother

or his family who sheltered him

or everyone else on earth, if that only meant that he could save himself

But no! It is a Raging Blaze

stripping away the limbs and scalp

which calls for all who drew back and turned away

and amassed and hoarded up

Truly man was created headstrong —

desperate when bad things happen

begrudging when good things come —

except for those who do salat

and are constant in it

those in whose wealth there is a known share

for beggars and the destitute

those who affirm the Day of Judgement

those who are fearful of the punishment of their Lord

no one is safe from the punishment of his Lord

those who guard their private parts

except from their wives and any slaves they own, in which case they incur no blame

but if anyone desires any more than that, they have overstepped the limits

those who honour their trusts and contracts

those who stand by their testimony

those who safeguard their salat

What is the matter with those who are kafir? They run about in front of you, with outstretched necks and staring eyes

on the right and on the left in scattered groups

Does each one of them aspire to be admitted into a Garden of Delight

Certainly not! We created them from what they know full well

No! I swear by the Lord of the Easts and Wests that We have the power

to replace them with something better than them. We will not be outstripped

So leave them to plunge and play around until they meet their Day which they are promised

The Day they will emerge swiftly from their graves as if rushing to rally to the flag

eyes downcast, darkened by debasement, that will be the Day which they were promised